The Italian teenager, who is viewed by his manager Sir Alex Ferguson as an outstanding talent for the future, told an Italian newspaper that his fellow striker is "a bit of a coatto" the Italian equivalent of a "chav".
According to reports, he continued: "Rooney is a great person. He always gives me advice. But he's a bit working class and vulgar."
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He also made a public apology, saying he "did not mean any offence" and that "All I meant is he is down to earth and friendly."
Friends of Macheda claimed the 19-year-old's remarks could not be taken as an insult because he "is a chav himself".
A friend told The Sun: "This isn't as bad as it sounds because Macheda is a chav himself.
"His dad's an odd-job man and his mum's a cleaner so he's hardly from middle class stock."
Rooney's character has been put under intense public scrutiny since allegations last month that he had sex with a prostitute while his wife Coleen was pregnant.
Coleen has not attended any of Rooney's matches since the claims surfaced but is reportedly prepared to watch England's match against Montenegro on Tuesday following the couple's "second honeymoon".